This paper presents results for the successful determination of trace elements in new reference samples of rocks. The absorption‐enhancement effects were preliminarily investigated theoretically for geological samples of various types. Nineteen trace elements were determined by XRF in the new reference samples applying this technique: SKD‐1 (quartz diorite), SSv‐1 (sviatonossite), BIL‐1 and BIL‐2 (Baikal sediments). In most cases good agreement was achieved between determined and certified values. The method was used for analysing 1500 carbonate sediment samples from the Siberian Platform Foldbelt. It should be noted that low concentrations of some elements are characteristic of the rocks studied and that values are not all available in CRMs. The approach presented in this paper made it possible to solve problems arising during the analysis of carbonate rocks. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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The article presents the information on organizing the studies of chemical and mineral compositions of rocks at the Analytical Centre of the Institute of the Earth's Crust, SB. It describes its main scientific fields and capabilities of laboratory equipment available in the Centre to study rock samples. The past major scientific achievements are given in brief. Scientific results from 2009 to 2013 are presented in a more detail, and a corresponding list of publications is included.

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The aim of the present work is to demonstrate the application of the x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) technique to the determination of Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb contents in phosphorites. The effect of a chemical sample composition on fluorescence intensities of analytical lines has been taken into account using the background standard method. A novelty of the work is the detailed study of a background to choose the background position, free from the spectral line overlaps of the elements presented in the sample. The most suitable background position is the position at the angle 2θ = 29° when using the analyzing crystal LiF(200). During our investigation we faced a problem of choice of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for the calibration of the phosphorites. To estimate interelement effects and to choose CRMs for the calibration the intensities were theoretically calculated. The statistical processing of analytical results of the technique is carried out. This technique may be applied to the determination of Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb contents in the phosphorites. Also, the possibility has been demonstrated to use the XRF technique for geochemical investigations of rocks. Phosphorites of Bokson‐Khubsugul Basin were selected as an example. As a result of the investigation the genetic type of phosphorites was established, which corresponded to the present geodynamical depositional environment. The character of the distribution of Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb contents in the phosphorites was also studied. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.